Your Guide to Doing Acrylic Nails at Home

Lots of women think they just can’t get that beautiful acrylic nail look outside of a salon, especially if they want a long, shaped design. Though it’s totally true that going to a professional is the best way to ensure quality results that save you time, these appointments are expensive. Whether you can’t afford the salon or just want to cut back on your beauty spending, you don’t have to sacrifice gorgeous manicures. Below is your guide to doing acrylic nails at home. Let’s dive in!

What You’ll Need To Get Started

Before you begin, get everything you’ll need in one place. Your three most important supplies are a brush, acrylic powder, and a liquid monomer—these are what will mix to form and harden into your new nails.

When you’re applying the acrylic paste, you’ll need either nail forms or tips to build out the nail’s length. Then, once the manicure has hardened, you need nail files and buffers to polish it off. Finally, make sure you have nail primer and a top coat on hand.

Prepping Your Natural Nails

With your supplies prepared, it’s now time to prepare your nails for the manicure. Begin by cleaning and drying your nails. Carefully push your cuticles back and file your natural nails short. This step is crucial because it gives your acrylics the best base to adhere to. Buff your nails lightly to remove shine, then apply a thin coat of nail primer. This helps the acrylic bond properly and last longer.

Applying the Acrylic

Now comes the fun part! Dip your brush into the liquid monomer, then into the acrylic powder to create a small bead. Place this bead on your nail and gently pat it into shape, working from the cuticle area toward the tip. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect on your first try—practice makes perfect!

Work quickly but calmly, as acrylic sets fast. Build up thin layers rather than trying to create thickness all at once. This technique gives you better control and a more natural look.

Shaping and Finishing

Once the acrylic has hardened (usually within a few minutes), it’s time to shape your nails. Use a coarse file to create your desired length and shape, then switch to a finer file for smoothing. Buff the entire nail surface to eliminate any ridges or imperfections.

Apply a base coat, your chosen nail polish color, and finish with a topcoat. This final step adds shine and protects your hard work.

Final Tips

With this guide, you can now do acrylic nails at home! Just remember to take your time, especially when you’re learning. It’s better to apply thin layers and build up gradually than to rush and end up with lumpy, uneven nails. Additionally, keep your workspace well-ventilated since acrylic products have strong fumes. Keep practicing, and we know you’ll be creating salon-quality manicures in no time.